04-18-2012, 04:33 PM
[size 2]Haven’t been fishing all winter and fishing buddies were begging for a Sturgeon trip, so after cancelling the March trip for weather reasons (imagine that), I was able to head north for a 3 day trip over the weekend & Monday. [/size]
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[size 2]We arrived at the boat launch on Saturday morning to a 10 mph breeze from the west and temperature of 44 degree. Water a little more stained than the usual fall color. Moss was not a factor – some folks know that it takes over the river in the summer and fall.[/size]
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[size 2]I had re-spooled all rods with brand new 50 lb. test mono for the trip. I had pre-tied all the hooks, weights, and bait. I even had caught approx. 20 dozen worms the night before I left since it had rained all day and saved about $50 in worm costs. [/size]
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[size 2]When the wind blows west to east which is opposite of the current direction, anchoring your boat without it spinning round & round is a challenge to say the least, let alone be able to detect a soft bite of the Sturgeon.[/size]
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[size 2]Since this was the first time fishing for sturgeon this time of year, I didn’t know where the fish were going to be located – deep (40’ to 50’) or shallow (20’ to 30’). Found a spot I thought we could hold and threw out the anchors – all 3 to be exact. Got out the lines – 2 a piece and hoped for the best. After swinging and bragging the lines and not getting any takers, I started to question if there was any fish in the area. Just as I was thinking this, at least 6 footer broke the surface about 30’ from the boat – got to see the whole fish come out of the water. I knew we were in the right area – now if we could get them to bite..[/size]
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[size 2]Winds were now gusting to at least 20 mph and the captain (me) was ready to try a new option since the boat wasn’t holding. I told the guys to take only one rod and put on fresh bait and get ready to just let it down to the bottom without casting it out when I gave the word. The shoreline in one word is Rock, everywhere you look is a dent waiting to happen or a ding in the prop ready to hit you in the wallet. The Fish Gods threw me an early present and showed me a 10’ bar of sand near a wall that I could nose the boat into with the motor raised and then lower it to keep the boat in the prefect position.[/size]
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[size 2]Then the fishing started, first we caught three 4 footers, and then a 6 footer. Things were going pretty well with the shore launch & heading out, dropping the lines, heading to shore, and catching fish. We got a little braver as the wind grew to 25 mph and added four lines to our routine. If you did get a bite and miss it you could reel in most of the time without getting a snag but sometimes you had to leave it out until we went out to re-cast and retrieve it after the boat had went crossed where it was snagged. Pretty standard stuff if you’re fishing from a boat. [/size]
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[size 2]I had put the boys on fish and now we needed to hook a big one… at least that’s what I thought…[/size]
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[size 2]Well it starts off with two rods getting snagged and my fishing buddy hooks into an unknown size fish. As we’re trying to get the snags out and find out what size fish he’s hooked, the fish decides to head out… Fire drill starts – cut the line quick!!! Long story short – lost most of the line both rods before we cut them. (we did get the lines back the next day). [/size]
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[size 2]I grew up on the Columbia River and have seen many over sized “Gators” and have got a couple 12’ footers up to the boat before releasing them to swim another day. I knew my fishing equipment and was sure of my boat and boating skills.[/size]
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[size 2]The time was 1:45 p.m. and the fight was on.[/size]
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[size 2]Time is now 2:30 and we have yet to see the fish – we had gone up and down the river, we had switched fighting the fish a couple times each and knew we were into a long battle. Winds were on gusting to 25 to 30 mph and waves were 3 to 4 footers. At 45 minutes into the fight and continually going in circles, I knew this fish was my great White Sturgeon. Finally the fish comes to the surface about 30’ out and what a beauty. I guessed between 9 and 10 feet. Then as quickly as it appeared it was gone again.[/size]
[size 2]Time 3:30 – we are up river about ¾ mile and doing continual circles – the fish loves the under side of my boat. The wind and waves are a concern, if someone fell into the 54 degree water it would be a cold rescue.[/size]
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[size 2]Time 4:00 – all my buddy kept saying was “We hooked a Freakin Monster”. All three of us have tired arms and are starting to wonder if we are going to get this one to the boat. I try a new tactic and using gloves, above the reel, I start pulling in the line as my buddy cranks the reel and puts tension on the rod. This is working great for about 15 yards – then the fish said enough of that and heads out with a 50 yards run.[/size]
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[size 2]Time 4:30 – Fish is directly under the boat about 10’ down and the wind and waves are a safety issue for sure. I reached down and take my gloves and with a quick hard tug and a hard head shake the line brakes off at the hook. Retrieved the weight, swivels and leader back.[/size]
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[size 2]That was my fish of a lifetime. That fish had earned every bit of my respect.[/size]
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[size 2]The Sturgeon in April are one tough SOB’s.[/size]
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[size 2]We arrived at the boat launch on Saturday morning to a 10 mph breeze from the west and temperature of 44 degree. Water a little more stained than the usual fall color. Moss was not a factor – some folks know that it takes over the river in the summer and fall.[/size]
[size 2] [/size]
[size 2]I had re-spooled all rods with brand new 50 lb. test mono for the trip. I had pre-tied all the hooks, weights, and bait. I even had caught approx. 20 dozen worms the night before I left since it had rained all day and saved about $50 in worm costs. [/size]
[size 2] [/size]
[size 2]When the wind blows west to east which is opposite of the current direction, anchoring your boat without it spinning round & round is a challenge to say the least, let alone be able to detect a soft bite of the Sturgeon.[/size]
[size 2] [/size]
[size 2]Since this was the first time fishing for sturgeon this time of year, I didn’t know where the fish were going to be located – deep (40’ to 50’) or shallow (20’ to 30’). Found a spot I thought we could hold and threw out the anchors – all 3 to be exact. Got out the lines – 2 a piece and hoped for the best. After swinging and bragging the lines and not getting any takers, I started to question if there was any fish in the area. Just as I was thinking this, at least 6 footer broke the surface about 30’ from the boat – got to see the whole fish come out of the water. I knew we were in the right area – now if we could get them to bite..[/size]
[size 2] [/size]
[size 2]Winds were now gusting to at least 20 mph and the captain (me) was ready to try a new option since the boat wasn’t holding. I told the guys to take only one rod and put on fresh bait and get ready to just let it down to the bottom without casting it out when I gave the word. The shoreline in one word is Rock, everywhere you look is a dent waiting to happen or a ding in the prop ready to hit you in the wallet. The Fish Gods threw me an early present and showed me a 10’ bar of sand near a wall that I could nose the boat into with the motor raised and then lower it to keep the boat in the prefect position.[/size]
[size 2] [/size]
[size 2]Then the fishing started, first we caught three 4 footers, and then a 6 footer. Things were going pretty well with the shore launch & heading out, dropping the lines, heading to shore, and catching fish. We got a little braver as the wind grew to 25 mph and added four lines to our routine. If you did get a bite and miss it you could reel in most of the time without getting a snag but sometimes you had to leave it out until we went out to re-cast and retrieve it after the boat had went crossed where it was snagged. Pretty standard stuff if you’re fishing from a boat. [/size]
[size 2] [/size]
[size 2]I had put the boys on fish and now we needed to hook a big one… at least that’s what I thought…[/size]
[size 2] [/size]
[size 2]Well it starts off with two rods getting snagged and my fishing buddy hooks into an unknown size fish. As we’re trying to get the snags out and find out what size fish he’s hooked, the fish decides to head out… Fire drill starts – cut the line quick!!! Long story short – lost most of the line both rods before we cut them. (we did get the lines back the next day). [/size]
[size 2] [/size]
[size 2]I grew up on the Columbia River and have seen many over sized “Gators” and have got a couple 12’ footers up to the boat before releasing them to swim another day. I knew my fishing equipment and was sure of my boat and boating skills.[/size]
[size 2] [/size]
[size 2]The time was 1:45 p.m. and the fight was on.[/size]
[size 2] [/size]
[size 2]Time is now 2:30 and we have yet to see the fish – we had gone up and down the river, we had switched fighting the fish a couple times each and knew we were into a long battle. Winds were on gusting to 25 to 30 mph and waves were 3 to 4 footers. At 45 minutes into the fight and continually going in circles, I knew this fish was my great White Sturgeon. Finally the fish comes to the surface about 30’ out and what a beauty. I guessed between 9 and 10 feet. Then as quickly as it appeared it was gone again.[/size]
[size 2]Time 3:30 – we are up river about ¾ mile and doing continual circles – the fish loves the under side of my boat. The wind and waves are a concern, if someone fell into the 54 degree water it would be a cold rescue.[/size]
[size 2] [/size]
[size 2]Time 4:00 – all my buddy kept saying was “We hooked a Freakin Monster”. All three of us have tired arms and are starting to wonder if we are going to get this one to the boat. I try a new tactic and using gloves, above the reel, I start pulling in the line as my buddy cranks the reel and puts tension on the rod. This is working great for about 15 yards – then the fish said enough of that and heads out with a 50 yards run.[/size]
[size 2] [/size]
[size 2]Time 4:30 – Fish is directly under the boat about 10’ down and the wind and waves are a safety issue for sure. I reached down and take my gloves and with a quick hard tug and a hard head shake the line brakes off at the hook. Retrieved the weight, swivels and leader back.[/size]
[size 2] [/size]
[size 2]That was my fish of a lifetime. That fish had earned every bit of my respect.[/size]
[size 2] [/size]
[size 2]The Sturgeon in April are one tough SOB’s.[/size]
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[size 2] [/size]
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